Incitec, Airbus, Treasury Wine: Intellectual Property

Incitec Pivot Ltd. (IPL)’s Dyno Nobel unit
is challenging a patent application related to a coal-mining
technique, the Australian Broadcasting Corp. reported on its
website.

The invention at issue is being used in coal mines in
Australia’s Hunger Valley and involves a rock-blasting
technique, according to ABC. The patent application was filed by
Orica Ltd. (ORI), an East Melbourne-based chemical and mining company,
ABC said.

The Australian Patent Office granted an extension for the
parties to file more evidence, according to the news service.

Airbus Seeks Patent on Space-Saving Passenger Seats

Airbus Group NV (AIR), the maker of the world’s largest passenger
aircraft, applied for a patent aimed at increasing the number of
passengers who can be seated on a plane.

Blagnac, France-based Airbus said in its application that
the width of an airline seat and the distance between seats have
already been reduced as much as possible, while airlines desire
to put more passengers onto the planes “in order to maximize
the return on the use of the aircraft.”

The only way this can be done is by reducing the space
allotted to each passenger, Airbus said.

Application 2014/015884, published in the database of the
U.S. Patent and Trademark Office June 12, describes a seat
shaped somewhat like a bicycle seat that can tip downward when
not in use, so passengers can pass by more easily. The backrest
element of the seat can also be retracted.

Treasure Wine Estates in China Dispute Over Ben Fu Name

After a Chinese court awarded Treasury’s Penfolds unit the
right to use its Chinese name -- Ben Fu -- for wines, holders of
that mark for other categories of goods appealed, the newspaper
said.

The dispute is with a trademark owner who previously won a
similar battle with France’s Castel Freres SAS, ultimately
forcing the French company to rename one of its brands in China,
the Morning Post reported.

For more trademark news, click here.

Copyright

Qantas Settles Dispute Over Song Use With Australian Pop Singer

Qantas Airways Ltd. (QAN) and Australian pop singer Megan
Washington settled a copyright dispute over what the musician
said was unauthorized use of a recording of her performance of
“I Still Call Australia Home,” NewsCorp’s News.com.au website
reported.

Washington objected to the use of the recording at the
airline’s 90th birthday party, on its website, for in-flight
entertainment and on YouTube, according to News.com.au.

Terms of the settlement weren’t disclosed, News.com.au the
website reported.